We are on the lookout for volunteers and organisations to be part of Maidstone's Eco Hub. We would really love to find local volunteers who are passionate about climate change to talk with residents and discuss with them sustainable choices and also assist with events.
We are also asking local, sustainable organisations to take part by supporting with information packs, posters, leaflets, giveaways, examples of their products and services and using our space for workshops and talks. This would be a great opportunity for local sustainable organisations to showcase and demonstrate their goods and services for free, reach local people and create clarity and confidence in making more environmentally-friendly choices.
Soroptimist International club mark the planting of 420 new trees
The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton unveiled a plaque and bench at Bridge Mill Way, Tovil on Saturday 3 June.
A plaque and recycled bench have been installed at Bridge Mill Way to mark the planting of trees and greening of the area by the Soroptimist International (SI) club of Medway and Maidstone. The unveiling coincided with the chartering of SI Medway and Maidstone on 3 June 1946.
In January 2022, members of Soroptimist International Medway and Maidstone, planted 420 native tree whips in the ex-landfill site area of Bridge Mill Way Recreation ground in co-operation with the Maidstone Borough Council Parks & Open Spaces Team, to help re-wild the area. Since the planting, Soroptimists have helped to maintain the area by carrying out periodic clean-ups to help keep the area litter-free. It is now a beautiful and peaceful area with lots of wild flowers and is enjoyed by residents and dog walkers.
The former Mayor, Cllr Fay Gooch also joined the event, proudly wearing a Soroptimist brooch, as she was in office in January 2022 when the whips were planted and was very supportive of the work of Soroptimists to improve the lives of women and girls.
In 2022, Fusion Healthy Living Centre partnered with the Rotary Club of Maidstone Riverside to reinstate the community raised bed allotments for use by the public. The plot had previously been a successful community project but, due to the raised beds age and lack of maintenance because of Covid-19 restrictions, it had fallen into disrepair.
The proposed project was to reinstate the beds and make the plots ready for use by individuals from the community. Fusion were able to source funding and limited specialist assistance from various sources but lacked the knowledge or man power to carry out the works. Maidstone Riverside Rotary volunteered to assist with the project, and in March 2022, commenced the clearance of the site, removing the existing dilapidated raised beds and preparing the ground for the new beds.
In April 2022 the first of the new beds was delivered, supplied by Hands of Hope, a charity that teaches people how to work with their environment. Work continued through the summer with additional raised beds provided by Cobtree Men’s Shed and soil from Communigrow, a food education charity. In October, work commenced laying the weed membrane and shingles to form the pathways between the raised beds. The beds have been spaced to allow wheelchair access where required and the shingle base laid to allow paving stones to be added to facilitate wheelchair movement when required.
Work was put on hold over the winter and restarted in spring 2023. An environmental grant was awarded to the project by Rotary District to fund a new sign, together with seating around a central cherry tree to provide an area for rest and socialising. In early June the beds were completed and are already in use.
This project is a fantastic example of organisations in the borough of Maidstone working together to support the local community. In total the members of Maidstone Riverside Rotary gave around 250 hours of their time to complete the project and in June 2023, Fusion awarded the team a “Super Hero’s “award with Sue Maidens, the CEO, saying:
“The Rotary have been so important in the refurbishment of the Allotment, without them the project would not be where it is today. They have saved the day multiple times at the allotment and are incredibly hard workers.”
The project coordinators would like to thank Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Community Foundation, Lawsons Endowment for Kent, Golding Homes and Morrisons for their support and funding.
Device Recycling Scheme
Kent County Council has launched a recycling scheme for businesses, charities and other organisations to dispose of their unwanted IT equipment and assets easily, safely, securely and in a way that minimises the impact on the environment.
Unwanted and discarded devices contribute to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) category and are part of the fastest growing type of waste in the UK today. The Device Recycling Scheme aims to refurbish and reuse wherever possible and directly supports those in our community, who need access to devices and hardware.
If you have items to dispose of, you can book a collection online on the Device Recycling Scheme website. Your items will then be collected by satellite-tracked vehicles.
Get Around for £2 extended
The £2 Single Bus Fare Cap scheme has been extended until 31 October 2023.
To find out more about the bus routes included in the £2 bus cap click here.
Grants and Funding
Magic Little Grants
After successfully distributing £500 grants to 2,650 charitable organisations in 2022, Localgiving is incredibly excited to announce that the 2023 applications are now open and will be until October 2023.
- Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000.
- Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.
- Please note that schools are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity. Groups in Northern Ireland are not eligible to apply for this funding.
The Big Bike Revival 2023 is focusing on teaching skills and leading bike rides.
If your organisation is able to deliver events which meet the criteria, you can apply for a grant of up to £2,000. Grants can be spent on equipment to expand capacity, venue hire for events or instructors to lead bike rides.
The Big Bike Revival programme is for people returning to cycling, or those starting as a complete beginner. In other words, it’s for people who do not cycle on a regular basis.
Delivery partners are typically volunteer-led groups, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises that are rooted in local communities.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions.
In order to benefit from ECO your property will need to require energy efficiency upgrades. The specific measures that would benefit your home would be determined by a retrofit assessment. You must own your own home or have permission from your landlord, including if the property is owned by a social housing provider or management company.
You could be eligible for ECO if you receive certain benefits. As a local authority MBC is also able to refer residents in our area to obligated energy suppliers so that they can be offered support under ECO Flex.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points, for eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations.
The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints capped at a maximum of: - £350 per socket - 40 sockets across all sites per applicant
This grant can be used in conjunction with the EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets: customer guidance, which helps fund both the installation of chargepoints and the cost of chargepoint infrastructure. Both grants may be used for the same site but not the same chargepoints.
Exciting news! We are teaming up with other Kent councils for an exciting joint campaign this month to support #PlasticFreeJuly.
Follow us on Facebook where we’ll be sharing posts with you each week of July including a quiz, video series and competition where you can win some amazing prizes. Stay tuned for updates, competition details and more exciting announcements!
Small actions can have a big impact
To support Plastic Free July this month, why not make a difference by switching to a reusable coffee cup? Here's why it matters:
Environmental impact: In the UK we use 7 million disposable coffee cups every day . After being used just once, most are destined for the bin as less than 1% are recycled due to being made from a mixture of plastic and paper.
Money saving: Did you know that many cafes offer discounts when you bring your own cup? It's a win-win situation! Not only are you reducing plastic waste, but you're also saving some pounds in the process.
Style statement: Reusable coffee cups have become a trendy accessory, allowing you to express your personality while being eco-friendly
This #PlasticFreeJuly, let's come together and take action.
We want to hear from you!
Are you an individual, business, community group, charity or other organisation that has been taking action to respond to climate change? Have you got climate change or biodiversity events that you want to spread the word about? We want to hear from you.
Email us at climateandbiodiversity@maidstone.gov.uk and tell us what you have been up to, and if you are comfortable, we will share your events, successes and lessons learnt to help others take action too.
Upcoming Events
Vinters Valley Nature Reserve Open Day Saturday 8 July 12noon - 4:30pm
Come along and celebrate nature in one of Maidstone's most loved community nature reserves. Get involved by joining in with one of the events or drop by to find out more about the nature reserve. All events start at the main terrace area. No need to book, but a small donation is welcome if you would like to take part in any of the events.
MBC is working with Emergency Exit Arts to bring a bright and colourful walking Arts Carnival ‘Wild About Maidstone’ to the town centre on Saturday 15 July from 2pm.
Everyone is welcome to see the amazing spectacle which will have more than 350 people taking part, including dancers and performers, local primary and secondary school pupils and participants from community groups. The Carnival is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The procession will start from the High Street at 2pm, walking through the town into Brenchley Gardens where there will be a finale event with music from 2.45pm - 5.30pm.
In preparation for the stunning parade Emergency Exit Arts have been holding workshops with all the schools involved to create their eye-catching carnival costumes and headwear. Free public workshops will be taking place on the following dates and everyone is welcome to come along, create a carnival headdress and be a part of the procession:
8 July - The Mall - 10am-2pm 15 July - Royal Star Arcade - 10am-12noon
Wilder Kent Safari: Wildlife of Bull Heath Saturday 22 July, 10.30am - 11.30am
Becoming a Bison Ranger at Wilder Blean (online talk) 6pm - 7pm
Wilder Holiday Camp Summer Holidays- Tyland Barn - 9am - 4pm Wilder Holiday Club offers days crammed full of activities designed to inspire and develop your child’s love of nature: from pond dipping to mini-beast hunts, from nature inspired crafts to campfires and den building. There will be more than enough to keep your children busy for the day and no two sessions are ever the same! The club is suitable for ages 5-11.
If you have an upcoming event that you would like to promote through the Climate Change & Biodiversity newsletter please email climateandbiodiversity@maidstone.gov.uk
We want to improve our communication and engagement with you around climate change & biodiversity in Maidstone. If you want to contact us please email climateandbiodiversity@maidstone.gov.uk
If you have enjoyed reading our Climate Change & Biodiversity update, why not forward this email onto your friends and family so they can 'Stay Connected' to news from Maidstone Borough Council.
